ENVIRON 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Fossil-Fuel Power Station, Nuclear Fission, Sulfur Dioxide
Document Summary
Environ 201 lecture 8 electricity pt. Air pollution: toxic chemicals mercury and metals, smog chemicals nitrogen oxides, acid rain chemicals sulfur dioxide, greenhouse gases carbon dioxide. Coal is considered to be one of the dirtiest energy sources: coal is the most common form of electricity. Pollution in the news: monroe coal power plant named 11th biggest super polluter in the u. s, 92% of the world lives in high pollution. Clean(er) coal : captures and stores co2 which is not currently regulated, additional reductions in other air pollutants, does not resolve problems associated with coal mining and coal ash disposal. Nuclear energy: nuclear fission reaction to create steam, highly controlled chemical reaction, not combustion, lots of clean energy, needs large amounts of water for cooling and control. Environmental impacts of nuclear power: virtually no air pollution, virtually no greenhouse gases, needs to have large water supply, potential for nuclear accidents. Very small probability, but high potential consequences.
